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Two Amerique qualifiers were on the menu today, Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) at Paris-Vincennes.
In the Prix Tenor de Baune (Gr. I, Amerique qualifier 4, purse 200,000€, 2700 meters for International five year olds) the 7.1/1 odds Horsy Dream (5m Scipion du Goutier-Bonanza du Closet) scored when Heraut d’Armes went offstride in the lane.
The Eric Raffin teamed winner is trained by Pierre Belloche for Ecurie du Closet and the winner recorded his 13th career victory now for 379,470€ earned. Race time was 1.12.2kr.
The 13/1 Happy Valley (5f Royal Dream-Mysterious Valley) rallied late to be placed second with Jean Philippe Dubois driving for his Ecurie Victoria Dreams and trainer Philippe Moulin. The North American bred and 88/1 outsider Beads (5m Archangel-Nepentha) set the pace for Yoann Lebourgeois and trainer Nicolas Bazire and ended fourth placed third for E D Magic AB.
47/1 Bengurian Jet (5m Maharajah-Love Me Tender IT) was placed fourth with Matthieu Abrivard up for trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro with 10/1 Hohneck (5m Royal Dream-Caranca) placed fifth with Francois Lagadeuc driving for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. Next to the line were 11/1 Hip Hop Haufor for Christian Bigeon and 18/1 Honey Mearas with Orjan Kihlstrom up. The miscue dq’s were previously unbeaten Calgary Games, First Blood and aforementioned Heraut d’Armes.
To watch the race replay, click here.
In the Gr. II monte Prix Jules Lemonnier (purse 120,000€, 2175 meters, International 5-10 year olds) the 1.3/1 favorite Granvillaise Bleue (6f Jag de Bellouet-Lady de Brevol) scored in a quick 1.09.9kr with jockey Camille Levesque in the irons.
Pierre Levesque trains this one for breeder/owner Michel Gallier. The winner now sports 10 career victories for 872,640€ in life earnings.
The 7.1/1 Zarenna FAS (7m Varenne-Miss Muscle FAS) was secomd with Alexandre Abrivard up for trainer Jean Michel Bazire and owner Francesco Gragnaniello. Diamant de Treabat (9g Kuadro Wild-Sud America) was third at 17/1 handled by jokey Clement Frecelle for owner/trainer Pascal Monthule. The Eric Raffin piloted Freeman de Houelle set the fast pace and ended sixth. The fractions were 1.06.3kr at the 1500 meters to go mark, 1.07.0kr at the 1000 and 1.09.1kr wcith 500 remaining.
To watch the race replay, click here.
In the Criterium Continental (Amerique qualifier 3, purse 200,000€, 2100 meters autostart for International four year olds) the 0.4/1 odds facvorite Idao de Tillard (4m Severino-America de Tillard) scored in 1.10.3kr with Clement Duvaldestin aboard. Thierry Duvaldestin trains the now 17 time winner of 812,930€ for Cyril Sevestre.
Imhatra Am (4f Muscle Hill-Tamla Celeber) was first up and finished second at 59/1 for pilot Bjorn Goop, trainer Jorgen Westholm and owner Stall Courant AB. Third was 13/1 frontrunner Callmethebreeze (4m Trixton-Gilly LB) that Andrea Guzzinati teamed for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire.
Charmant de Zack (4m Vivid Wise As-Martina Grif) was fourth at 8.9/1 handled by Jean Michel Bazire for trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro. Fifth was 12/1 Inoubliable (4f Prodigious-Dream Life) with Eric Raffin up for the Jean Philippe Dubois team, trainer Philippe Moulin and Ecurie Victoria Dreams. The pace of this event was rapid as well – 1.07.6kr with 1500 meters remaining 1.09.8kr at the 1000 and 1.11.1kr with 500 meters to go.
To watch the race replay, click here.
LeTrot files/photos
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink
